June 22, 2012

One more week until the Grand Opening Celebration for our new store, Today's Country FARM & Frills! We are excited to announce our "Special Guest" - Deb Bock! Deb started it all in our 1920's Gas Station 13 years ago when she opened Keepsakes, so we thought it only fitting to welcome her back!

June 04, 2012

I keep saying that I'm going to soon stop posting on this blog - but I worry that many of you have not found our NEW blog - so once again, click the link below and you will find ALL kinds of new Farm Chicks pictures!!!

May 03, 2012

So this is it...Amy and I have officially moved out of our old store. You will no longer find our treasures there... But you CAN still find us in Sumner at New England Saltbox.

But soon we will be opening our NEW STORE!! That's right - you can't keep a couple crazy girls down for long! HA!

We will be opening our new location at 880 Main Street in BUCKLEY, Washington in June. We're so excited to be moving into this old 1920's Gas Station (former location of Keepsakes). The new store will be called Today's Country FARM & Frills - so watch for more information.

So - after nearly 13 years, Amy and I will no longer call 1008 Main Street, Sumner Washington our home away from home. We take with us wonderful memories but more importantly FABULOUS friends and customers! This is a photo I took just before we left - dealers, Sharon and Jerry Rody moved out at the same time. Thanks especially to them for their love and loyalty all these years.

March 24, 2012

Since turning the store over to new owners, Kristi & James Blonden on February 1st, Amy and I have been busy keeping our booth full there - it's been weird trying to fit over 1,000 sq. feet of stuff into 200 sq. feet - but we're doing it! So be sure to come by and see the store and all the changes.

In addition you can NOW find us at another great Sumner shop - New England Saltbox. So a trip to Sumner is twice the fun!!

February 02, 2012

It's hard to believe that it's been 12 1/2 years! We haven't aged a bit! HaHa! In addition to Amy and I - there are three wonderful ladies who have been in the store since the very first day we opened! So on Tuesday night, before we turned our keys over to the new owner, we raised a glass to the five original Country Store Girls - Sharon Rody, Corky Wilkes and Jeanine Corey! Ladies - it's been a blast!

Remember, the store is open for business - so be sure to check it out! You won't believe how much stuff Amy and I could fit into 200 square feet!!

January 28, 2012

Our wonderful neighbors in Sumner are throwing us a "going away" party - so we've decided to include all of you - our loyal customers! So please join us Tuesday, January 31st after 5:30 p.m. But remember - we're not really "going away" we're just moving on...our stuff will still be in the store and we'll be at lots of shows! You'll hardly know we're gone... The store may look a little weird that night, but we've actually got lots of great stuff to fill our new space - so come get the first look!

When we first opened in 1999 we had a couple stools on the outside of the counter where customers could sit and wait while making their purchase. Little did we know that this would be the beginning of what I call the "Cheers Bar Phenomenon". Since the very beginning our store has felt like a home away from home for us and it seems, for many of you too. I can't tell you how often we hear from folks "Can I just live in here?" I've come to realize over time that it's because of what we sell. An antiques store is different from ALL other stores in one very special way. What we sell reminds people of an earlier time in their life - it could be the bowl where grandma made bread; or the lamp that looks just like one in Aunt Aggie's basement; or the vanity that was in their "little girl" bedroom. And with that memory comes emotion - more often then not a big smile appears and there's a sense of delight. What could be more wonderful then to bring an unexpected delight to your customers day??

And then the "Cheers Bar Phenomenon" appears and the stories begin. We have heard hundreds - maybe thousands of stories from folks who were reminded of a time in their lives just by seeing something we have in the store. We've heard love stories, war stories; heartbreaking stories and wild west stories; stories of surviving the great depression and stories from far away places. Sometimes the storyteller is surprised by their own ability to remember because "they haven't thought about that for years"...I think I'll miss those stories the most.

In 12 1/2 years we have watched toddlers become teenagers, moms grow to be grandmas; we've been there to help folks fill their houses with treasures only to have them "size down" years later so they could become snowbirds. We've noticed when particularly sweet customers no longer come in - like the little elderly lady who used to bring me recipes all the time or the darling man who took the bus from Auburn because he couldn't see to drive just so he could buy our old magazines to get ideas for his garden cutouts... We may not always remember everyone's name, but we can usually remember what you are looking for! There's the guy that buys his wife brown transferware EVERY Christmas or the stately woman who loves everything Victorian or the couple who were looking for just the right farm table for about seven years...you get the picture...we remember YOU.

And we will miss you.

~Kris

So please join us one last time at the store, Tuesday the 31st after 5:30 p.m. - by then Amy and I will be ready for some food, fun and friends!!

January 11, 2012

It's time for our WINTER WHITE NIGHT OUT

Thursday, January 19th from 5 - 8 p.m.

As always we will have great food, wine and lots of friends - oh and some shopping too!

Now about those changes...

it is with mixed emotions that Amy and I announce this is the last event we will be throwing at Today's Country Store. As of February 1st the store's name will change and we will simply become dealers. Now - don't panic! We will continue to bring in fabulous and fun antiques - in fact, now that we'll have an opportunity to travel we will be bringing in MORE!!

Many of you know that we have been planning a change for some time now, and this is it! We have a busy show schedule this year, including Junk Salvation in Hillsboro, Oregon; Ruffles & Rust, Farm Chicks, Barn House and more - and all this in addition to our space in Portland's most fabulous mall - Monticello's. So honestly, it is time for us to pass the store on to someone new.

As I write this I find myself getting a little emotional. Amy and I opened the store in July of 1999 and had no idea how long we'd call Sumner home. Now, 12 1/2 years later it's a little scarey to think of moving on. I'm sure my car will automatically drive to Sumner a time or two before I realize I don't work there any more. And now about that...it will be bittersweet when February 1st comes - because we'll have the time to do all the things we've wanted to for so long, but WE WILL miss our wonderful customers so very much!

So PLEASE join us Thursday, January 19th from 5:00 to whenever we get outta there! We would love to see you and thank you for supporting us all of these years!

December 04, 2011

It's time once again for our Vintage Christmas Open House - this Thursday, December 8th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. As always, the store is full of Christmas treasures. This is one of our favorite nights of the year that we share with our customers. We dim the lights, bring out some food for the soul and fill your glasses with cheer! So join us for this special night and take home a gift with every purchase!

We get told all the time how a visit to our store inspires folks for the season - and how our little town of Sumner is reminiscent of the famous movie town of Bedford Falls! So relax this holiday, treat yourself to some old fashioned fun and remember...It's a Wonderful Life!

November 23, 2011

First I need to say THANK YOU for all the support you have given our small business over the years! This Saturday is the second annual Small Business Saturday sponsored by American Express. Whether you are an American Express customer or not - you can show your support to your favorite "mom and pop" shops all over the country by shopping them this Saturday, November 26th! If you are an American Express customer learn how to receive a $25 credit on your next statement by clicking on American Express supports small businesses.

Statistics show that money spent in small businesses stays in the local community!

For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home! To learn more about this be sure to click on our 3/50 project link to the right.

November 10, 2011

Check out our vintage Christmas this year - we just keep unpacking box after box after box!

Remember our Hometown Holiday Celebration

Saturday, November 12th, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

We welcome one more new dealer to our family - April! She is a recent transplant from Texas and has wonderful vintage clothes (she even made her own little dressing room). We are thrilled to offer our customers something fresh and different.

We just put this beautiful Cinderella-esq dress in the window - it's stopping traffic it's so fabulous!

November 04, 2011

Sumner is kicking off the holiday season with our annual Hometown Holiday Celebration - Saturday, November 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Shops throughout the town will be decked out for Christmas - including us!

So be sure to save the date and put a visit to our store on your "To Do List" for next Saturday and join us for some pre-Christmas cheer!

October 21, 2011

Amy and I just got home from setting up our booth at the fabulous Ruffles & Rust Vintage Market! It was a long day - but it's always so fun to see the finished product. We usually have a "plan" before we start - but honestly it never really ends up looking like we thought - it's BETTER! If you have time Saturday make your way to the Monroe Fairgrounds - the show opens at 9:00 a.m. and goes until 4:00 p.m. You won't be sorry - this is a fabulously fun show with some of the premier dealers in our area. Admission is $8 - but if you stop by the shop you can pick up a $3 off coupon!! Hope to see you there!

September 08, 2011

Okay - so is it REALLY Fall??? You wouldn't know it by the weather! But Summer is better late than never - and I'm not complaining. Okay, maybe I'll complain a little because it was 90 degrees yesterday while Amy and I spent a LONG 18 hour day moving into our new space at the Monticello's Fall Show.

We are soooo excited to have been asked back - AND with our new fabulous space in the "Barn!" Yesterday was alot of work, but we are thrilled with the final look! If you get a chance to visit - this store is amazing and we recommend you go!